Doris Carlson

Doris Carlson, 93, passed away on July 25, 2025.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM, Friday, August 1, at Bismarck Baptist Church, 2211 Laforest Ave, Bismarck. To view the service livestream, click this link Bismarck Baptist Church - YouTube

Visitation will be held from 5:30-7:45 PM, Thursday, July 31, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck. A prayer service will begin at 7:45 PM. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service.

Burial will be held at Stone Lutheran Cemetery, Mandan.

Doris Carlson was born December 17, 1931 in a rural community called Stewartsdale, about 12 miles southeast of Bismarck. This community was founded by her Scottish ancestors who Immigrated to North Dakota from Prince Edward Island, Canada. Doris' parents were Alex and Vera (Gramling) Stewart.

Doris was raised south of Menoken in a family that loved horses and worked hard on their farm. They milked cows, raised beef cattle, chickens and hogs. Doris loved to help her dad outside with the chores and the animals. Born in the Great Depression, Doris learned to be frugal. Doris attended Manning, Apple Creek and Telfer schools southeast of Bismarck. She went to Bismarck High School, boarding in a house not far from the school. Doris graduated 75 years ago from Bismarck High School in 1950.

Doris attended one semester of college at Dickinson Normal School. Then she was asked to teach school at Dana Township, near Hazelton. She returned to college and earned her Standard Teaching Certificate. She taught at several one room country schools in Morton, Burleigh and Emmons Counties and one school near Tappen. Doris cared deeply about her students and became lifelong friends with many of them.

When she was teaching at Chimney Butte School in Morton County, she met a local bachelor, Raymond Carlson. They married in 1955. Raymond farmed and worked construction when they were first married. In 1961 Doris and Raymond bought their farm. They raised cattle, hogs, horses and chickens along with crops to sustain the growing family. Doris and Raymond raised 3 sons, Lynn, Dennis & Kenton

In 1972 Doris's mother Vera Stewart came to live with Doris and Raymond as Vera had Multiple Myloma cancer. Doris took care of her mother for 8 years in the family home. In 1980 Doris became ill from a cancerous tumor around her colon which required surgery. At that time Vera moved to Missouri Slope Nursing Home for her care so Doris could concentrate on her own care and recuperation. Doris never had any additional indications of cancer the rest of her life.

When taking care of her mother, Doris began writing as something to do when staying in the house with her mother. Doris took a creative writing class and honed her writing skills. She wrote stories about early years growing up as well as life on the farm with her family. Some of her stories were published in national magazines such as Capper's Farmer, Country Woman and other magazines. Doris received payment for many of her writings which spurred her on to write more.

Having had typing in High School, Doris utilized a typewriter to write her stories as well as many letters to family and friends over the years. As technology evolved, Doris kept right up with it. She used an electric typewriter then later graduated to using a personal computer. She adapted to that well. She really enjoyed keeping up with family and friends through emails. She also liked to read the Bismarck Tribune and other publications online.

In later years Doris wrote more stories about her life which were compiled into her personal memoirs booklet. A few years ago Doris wrote and submitted some of her stories to the North Dakota State Fair Writing Contest. One year she wrote about her grandparents coming to settle in North Dakota and told about each person and their contribution to society and the state. Her story won a Blue Ribbon, Best of Class and Best of Show awards. She was even happier to receive a very nice premium check for her efforts.

When Raymond became a director of West River Telecommunications, Doris travelled with him to the many conferences he attended. The two of them enjoyed their travels and made many friends over the years. She enjoyed meeting new people and sharing her stories via email with them. She continued using email right up to her being hospitalized. On the farm, Doris was always by Raymond's side helping him with the livestock and field work as she could.

Doris has always been an outdoor person. She loved walking outside in the fresh air. She also loved helping Raymond outside and later her sons whenever they were working on projects on the farm. When younger she drove her favorite John Deere tractor to mow hay and cultivate com. Doris loved animals all her life. She enjoyed milking cows and caring for animals. She taught her sons to milk cows by hand. Farm pets would always follow Doris around as they knew she was the one who would feed and care for them.

Going to church and serving God was also important for Doris. She made sure all of her son's knew about Jesus. She also encouraged her grandchildren to pray and to read books. Doris loved children and always took time to say hello to a young child wherever she went.

Doris leaves behind her sons Lynn; Dennis and his wife Kristi and their daughter Brittany; Kenton and his wife Marnie as well as their children Bailey (San), Josie (Lukas) and their children Lettie and Sophie; and Tanner as well as several nieces and nephews.

Preceding Doris in death were her husband Raymond Carlson, his parents and siblings and their spouses, Doris' parents, siblings and their spouses along with some nephews and nieces. Doris will be buried beside her husband at Stone Lutheran Cemetery southwest of Mandan, North Dakota.

The family prefers memorials to Stone Lutheran Cemetery, 2302 E Divide Ave, Bismarck, for the upkeep of the cemetery and restoration of the church building.